Luther hall bellamy



L. H. BELLAMY.

(N0 Model.)

HORSESHOB PAD.

No. 579,313. Patented Mar, 23, 1897.

WITNESSES m: Ncmus 9:15:15 co. mamuvnmw/smnmon, 0 cv ilnirn -TATES ATENT rrrcn,

LUTHER HALL BELLAMY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HOR'SESHOE-PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,313, dated March 23, 1897. Application filed June 19, 1896. Serial No. 596,158- (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER HALL BELLAMY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pads or Cushions for the Feet of Horses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs,formin g a part thereof, in which similarnumerals of reference in dicate corresponding parts wherever found throughout the several views.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved pad or cushion for the feet of horses which is adapted to be used in connection with a specially-constructed shoe and which is designed to assist and maintain the natural action of the foot and the invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of my improved pad or cushion, showing the shoe connected therewith; Fig. 2, a side view thereof, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal central section.

The evils resulting from the use of the presout forms of shoes for horses are apparent, it being a rare thing to find a horse with feet in perfect form and condition after having been shod for any length of time, and this is especially true of horses which are compelled to travel over hard, macadamized, stone, and similar pavements in large cities and towns, and as a matter of fact horses suffer more from feet troubles thus occasioned than from all other sources combined; and the especial obj ect of myinvention is to remedy this evil, and this object I accomplish by providing an improved foot covering or pad 5 for use in con nection with a shoe 6, which is also of special construction, and the pad 5 is preferably composed of rubber and canvas or similar material, and is so shaped as to conform to the shape of the foot, and is provided centrally of the heel thereof with a spring-bearing 8, which is downwardly curved or convex on its lower side and concave on its upper side and is designed to lessen the concussion and also to act as a lifting force for the foot.

The pad 5 is thicker at the heel 9 than at the toe 10, and the thickness thereof gradually decreases from the heel to the toe, as

clearly shown in Fig. 2 and I also provide side bearings 11, which are preferably arranged at about the center of the sides of the pad and just inside of the sides of the shoe, and said bearings consist of dot'vnwardly-dt rected shoulders or projections which are substantially of the form shown in the drawings and are designed to form rocking or pivotal points for the foot.

The springbearing 8 at the heel first comes in contact with the ground and receives the force of the impact of the foot and breaks the shock of concussion, and when the foot is lifted the full benefit of the spring will be secu red,and the side bearings 11 being projected below the level or plane of the toe 12 of the shoe will enable the horse to make the forward movement with greater ease and safety, and when used in connection with the specially-prepared shoe 6 will afford the desired relief for the feet. The shoe is also provided with downwardly-directed side bearings 13, arranged adjacent to each of the bearings 11 on the pad 5, but which do not project as low as said bearings 11, and said shoe or the sides thereof terminate a predetermined distance in front of the heel, as shown at 14, and by reason of this arrangement the heel of the pad and the spring-cushion or the downwardly-directed portion 8 thereof first comes in contact with.the ground, as hereinbefore stated.

It will be understood that the shoe and pad are to be connected with the hoof or foot of the horse in the usual manner, and by reason of my improved pad I provide for the even distribution of the pressure over all the weight-bearing surfaces of the foot, and as will be understood the same may be applied to any form or size of hoof or foot, and by means thereof injury to the horse or to the horses feet is prevented. h

The bearing-surface of this appliance is also admirably adapted to give secure footing for the horse on any kind of roadway, and the rocking feature which it embraces in connection with a spring-bearing at the heel enables the horse to move with great ease and safety on hard and smooth pavements, thus affording protection for the feet, and one which is well adapted'to maintain the natural form and condition thereof.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A pad or cushion for the feet of a horse, said pad or cushion being composed of rubber and canvas or similar material, and being thicker at the heel than at the toe, and being provided centrally of the heel with a downwardly-curved spring-bearing, and at each side with downwardly-directed bearings, in combination with a shoe which is secured thereto, and which is also provided with downwardly-directed bearings about midway of its sides, and with the usual toe, substantially as shown and described.

2. A pad or cushion for the feet of a horse, said pad or cushion being composed of rubber and canvas or similar material, and being thicker at the heel than at the toe, and being provided centrally of the heel with a downwardly-curved spring-bearing, and at each side with downwardly-directed bearings, in combination with a shoe which is secured thereto, and which is also provided with clownwardly-directed bearings about midway of its sides, and with the usual toe, the arrangement of the shoe and pad being such that the sides of the shoe do not extend entirely back to the heel of the pad, substantially as shown and described.

3. A pad or cushion for horses feet, composed of rubber and canvas or similar mate rial, said pad or cushion being thicker at the heel than at the toe, and being conformed to the shape of the foot, and being also provided centrally of the heel with a downwardly-directed spring-bearing, and at each side with downwardly-directed bearings, in combination with a shoe which is secured thereto, said shoe being also provided with the usual toe, and with downwardly-directed bearings at the sides thereof, which are located outside of those formed on the sides of the pad or cushion, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the feregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 17th day of June 1806.

LUTHER HALL BELLAMY.

lVitnesses:

XV. W. HILL, CHARLES S. ROGERS. 

